Warren, VT, February 7, 2018 – On March 4, 2018, the High Fives Foundation from Truckee, Calif. will team up with GoPro and Vermont North Ski Shops to share the slopes of Sugarbush Resort in Warren, Vt. with over 200 skiers and snowboarders in the Seventh Annual Fat Ski-A-Thon. Prior to the event, participants will reach out to their contacts to raise funds for the Foundation.

“The Fat Ski-a-Thon is my favorite event of the year,” says Adam Palmiter, annual event participant. “My best friend Steve was supported by High Fives in 2010, and I have seen how the positive support effected him. I always look forward to raising funds for this organization that supports so many amazing individuals across the country.” High Fives provides grants to outdoor sports athletes who suffer from life-altering injuries such as spinal cord or brain injuries. The organization also teaches safety awareness and smart decision making at schools in Mad River Valley, Vt. and across the country. Through amazing support in years past, the Annual Fat Ski-a-Thon has become the largest fundraising event for the the High Fives Foundation. The organization has set a goal of raising $205,000 at the March 4th event. With the participation of annual fundraisers Rubi and Mae Murphy raising over $20,000 each year, a $25,000 personal matching donation from the CEO of Microlumen and a $5,000 matching donation from SNOCRU, the goal is certainly attainable.

“Looking back on the last six years of this event, it is amazing to see it grow to this level” says Roy Tuscany, Executive Director of High Fives Foundation “This community is so powerful, so strong and so supportive. These funds will continue to support athletes in their recoveries from a life-altering injury. It is a true blessing to be able to call this place home for myself and the organization.”

In the week prior to the Annual Fat Ski-a-Thon, the High Fives Foundation will host Restaurant Week starting on Wednesday, February 28th through the event on Sunday in the Mad River Valley of Vermont. Fundraising dinners will be held at The Hyde Away, The Mad River Barn, American Flatbread, Local Folk Smokehouse and Rumble’s Kitchen. Each dollar raised during Restaurant Week will go toward the organizations Fat Ski-a-Thon fundraising goal.

“Restaurant Week is such a great addition to the Fat Ski-a-Thon festivities,” said Gina Miele, Events and Partners Manager at the High Fives Foundation. “It helps build hype for the event, while raising additional funds for injured athletes.”

When participants gather the morning of March 4th at Sugarbush Resort for the Seventh Annual Fat Ski-a-Thon, they will track each run on punch cards provided by Ski VT, as well as the SNOCRU ski and snowboard tracking app. The SNOCRU app can be downloaded and used by any skier or snowboarder at www.snocru.com/.

Food and beverages from Local Folk Smokehouse, Village Grocery, Cabot Cheese and Yolo Snacks will be provided throughout the day, while skiers and snowboarders enjoy music from Mad River Valley’s DJ Professor.

Awards will be held after the event at Sugarbush’s Rumble’s Kitchen. Participants will be recognized for Best Solo Performance, Best Duo Performance, Best Team Performance, Best Dressed and Most Outstanding Performance, while enjoying beer from Lawson’s. The Seventh Annual Fat Ski-a-Thon is a public event, and anyone is welcome to participate or donate at www.fatski.highfivesfoundation.org

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ABOUT THE HIGH FIVES FOUNDATIONHigh Fives Non-Profit Foundation, based in Truckee, CA, became an official 501c.3 non-profit on January 19, 2009. Founded by Roy Tuscany, the Tahoe-based Foundation supports the dreams of outdoor sports athletes by raising injury prevention awareness while providing resources and inspiration to those who suffer life-altering injuries. Since 2009, the Foundation has helped 187 athletes from 32 states. For more information, visit www.highfivesfoundation.org

ABOUT SUGARBUSH

In 2001, Summit Ventures, led by Win Smith, purchased Sugarbush from the American Skiing Corporation. Today, Smith serves as President of the resort, and his family remains the majority owner. The resort includes two mountain areas, multiple lodging properties, an eighteen-hole golf course, a health and recreation facility, and an array of dining venues. Year-round, the resort staffs approximately 155 employees, and in the height of the winter season employees number close to 1,000.

Sugarbush has earned a reputation as one of the best ski resorts around. Ski Magazine recently ranked Sugarbush #2 in the East, and USA Today named it a top 10 resort in the country—the only eastern resort to be recognized. For more information, visit https://www.sugarbush.com/

Becca Lefanowicz | Truckee, CA
Social Media Manager |
Becca is the first High Fives employee born and bred on the west coast, but she's left her footprints and first tracks all over the globe. She is a celebrated big mountain skier, having once held the title of North Face Young Gun award at the Subaru North American Freeskiing Championships before attending Western Washington University. Becca offers her linguistic and artistic savvy to the Foundation as Social Media Manager.

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